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Nuclide

Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

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Definition

In chemistry and physics, the term nuclide refers to an atom with a distinct number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus. Nuclides may be stable or unstable. Of the ∼3,100 known nuclides, there are ∼256 that are so stable that they have never been observed to decay. Unstable nuclides are radioactive and are called radionuclides. Their daughter decay products are called radiogenic nuclides. Nuclides with the same number of protons (of the same chemical element), but differing numbers of neutrons, are called isotopes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5251 Broad Branch Rd. NW, Washington, DC, 20015, USA

    Henderson James (Jim) Cleaves II

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  1. Henderson James (Jim) Cleaves II
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Correspondence to Henderson James (Jim) Cleaves II .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Cleaves, H.J.(. (2014). Nuclide. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1087-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1087-3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Nuclide
    Published:
    15 February 2023

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1087-4

  2. Original

    Nuclide
    Published:
    30 April 2015

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1087-3

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